Best Places to Live in the U.S. 2026: Top DFW Cities Ranked

Nearly a dozen cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have been named among the best places to live in the United States for 2025-2026, according to rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

Among the recognized municipalities, Mansfield ranked as the 27th best place to live nationwide. Within the state of Texas, Mansfield secured the No. 9 position in the separate rankings for the best places to live in the state for the 2025-2026 period.

National Rankings and Methodology

The national list identifies Johns Creek, Georgia, as the No. 1 best place to live in the U.S., followed by Carmel, Indiana, at No. 2. The No. 3 spot was awarded to Pearland, a suburb located in the Houston area of Texas.

For the 2025-2026 rankings, U.S. News & World Report expanded its scope, increasing the number of cities under review from 150 to 250. The organization updated its methodology to evaluate each city based on five distinct livability indexes: quality of life, value, desirability, job market, and net migration.

To determine these rankings, the report utilized data from various state and local sources, as well as federal agencies including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Department of Commerce, the Federal Reserve, and the Bureau for Economic Analysis.

Mansfield’s Economic and Demographic Profile

The report attributes Mansfield’s placement within the top 30 national cities to several key economic indicators. The city maintains a median household income of $117,680 and median home values of $364,136.

Mansfield’s population consists of nearly 80,000 residents, characterized by a mix of families and young individuals. According to the report, 31 percent of the city’s residents are under 20 years old, and 32 percent are between the ages of 20 and 44.

Additional demographic data shows that 25 percent of the population is between 45 and 64 years old, while 12 percent of residents are over the age of 65.

Regarding social and age-based distributions, the report states that 66.6 percent of all Mansfield residents are married. 55 percent of the total population falls within the 25 to 64 age bracket.